I've been writing this blog for six seasons, and I've rarely played the Rodney Dangerfield card. I'm getting ready to do it, though.

I don't see any way a one-loss Florida or Georgia or Oklahoma deserves to jump over an unbeaten Penn State should the Lions finish out the season unbeaten. And I might even make a case for Penn State to leapfrog an unbeaten Alabama.

Here's why: The Southeast Conference and the Big 12 are beating up on each other, and the contenders have no glamour out-of-conference wins. I'm not saying Penn State has one, either, but if you look at Texas or Texas Tech or Oklahoma or Alabama or Florida or Georgia or LSU, they have no wins over really strong non-conference teams.

It's really just an incestuous situation with the SEC and Big 12. Where's the win over a national non-con power? And don't trot out Ohio State the past two years as evidence to downgrade Penn State this year. Penn State is not Ohio State, and if you look at the Nittany Lions' recent record, they've done fairly well against the SEC and Big 12 -- including bowl victories over those conferences the last two seasons.

And as for Alabama, the Tide barely beat Mississippi at home. 'Bama also doesn't have much of a passing offense. What makes the Tide so special?

So, let's see how it plays out tonight with Texas at Texas Tech, and next week when Alabama plays at LSU. Meanwhile, don't give me any of this SEC and Big 12 crap until a contender beats somebody really good from another conference.

Current Comments

Well, we now know that Texas Tech can go toe to toe and turn on the afterburners to beat a very sluggish out of the blocks and very uneven Texas. What a game!

Texas Tech is an absolutely fun team to watch. I would venture to say that they even have some form of team charisma when playing. Innovation, execution, and wide open play seems to beat out a more controlled, tight and, in this game, erratic and uneven style.

Posted By: PSU77 | Nov 2, 2008 7:31:42 AM

PSU is absolutely NO OSU when it comes to bowl games. When OSU is in a bowl game they seem to leave the first string at home. Just like they did at USC this Fall.

Posted By: PSU77 | Nov 2, 2008 7:34:36 AM

This last posting is the Fox News of college football. I've never seen such a biased view posing as "fair & balanced."

Are you really saying that because the SEC and Big 12 beat each other up in schedules that are unbelievably grueling that it doesn't matter? They still need glamour out of conference wins?? Texas just played 4 consecutive games to competition Penn State hasn't played over 4 years. Yes, it may be incestuous, but it is incest at its highest level and cannot be looked down on as an abomination.

See you at The Big 10 Championship game. Oh, I forgot, there isn't one!

Posted By: Kevin | Nov 2, 2008 8:13:08 AM

I love Fox News!

Posted By: psu87 | Nov 2, 2008 9:16:45 AM

Kevin:

You are quite the rocket scientist....

You do know that the NCAA requires 12 teams in a league for a Championship game?

Your complete lack of knowledge negates your entire post.

Posted By: angrypsufan | Nov 2, 2008 9:43:16 AM

The SEC is overrated...they have two teams...Florida and Bama....as for the Big 12, I'm not buying it. Remember when they clung to the idea that the Big 8 was the best conference and everytime PSU played one of them in a bowl game....we gave them a lickin ! More football to be played in November and then again in Janurary

Posted By: Jack | Nov 2, 2008 10:53:19 AM

I'm not buying the idea that the SEC is so tough, they only have two teams...Florida and Bama. As for the Big 12, I'm not buying that either...remember when they said the Big 8 was the best conference ? Every time PSU played one of those teams in a bowl game, we gave them a lickin ! More football to be played in November and January so let it play out on the field.

Posted By: Jack | Nov 2, 2008 10:58:35 AM

Head to head elimination would settle all of this drivel...I'm posting at you, Kevin. Trying to make comparisons from afar is the domain of entertainers like Lee Corso and those who take a counter position of his to make it interesting.

Let's see PSU annihilates Oregon State who promptly turns around and makes USC look like fools. This sort of turnabout happens everywhere in college footbal and all season long.

HEAD TO HEAD, the only way to settle it. Of course the sprots media may then sell less print and air time with all of the controversy negated. The poor Bowl Cities would maybe have to tin cup it. Follow the $$$$$$